Monthly Artist Spotlight: Jai Malano

On a Saturday morning in the spring of 2011, I was on my laptop writing something, probably some subversive manifesto, as I was listening to Art Martel’s radio show which emanates from Pomona, California. Out of the speakers came a voice I was not familiar with singing a song that I had never heard. I closed my word document and listened, giving the recording my undivided attention. I was knocked out by what I heard. I grabbed a legal pad and pen and waited for Art to tell his listening audience what he had just shared with them.

It was a band out of Fort Worth, Texas, called The Royal Rhythmaires. My research revealed that the singer whose voice captivated my attention was that of Jai Malano. She was singing one of her own original compositions entitled Cajun Boy. I soon “published” a piece on the band.

As it turned out, Malano’s association with this band was a relatively short lived endeavor. She has since embarked on a solo career and will soon be releasing her first album under her own name. I thought it was time to update our readers on Jai, who traveled out to California for the first time this past month. She made her performance debut in the Golden State on January 29th in San Clemente. Her music is a mix of rhythm and blues and first generation rock&roll style barn burners all imbued with her powerful, soulful vocal delivery.

In the modern day blues world, where great original songwriting and singers are in relatively short supply, Jai Malano has both these bases covered. Malano has a singing voice and stage presence that stands in sharp contrast to her soft spoken, almost shy personality off of the bandstand. As far as her songwriting is concerned, she told me that, “Every song I write is a true story. I only write about what I know.”

After hearing her soon to be released album and seeing her perform live, what I know is Jai Malano is a star on the rise. Enjoy a conversation with the incomparable Jai Malano.

David Mac (DM): Where are you from originally?

Jai Malano (JM): I was born on Florida, spent time in New Orleans before moving to Austin. I went to school at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, then transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington before moving back to Austin. I moved back to Austin a couple of years ago.

DM: Let’s talk about your background in music.

JM: I played the flute in the band in middle school and in high school. That is really the extent of my musical background. I was never in the jazz ensemble or anything like that. I never even had any vocal lessons.

DM: Then it is a gift.

JM: I would say it is definitely a gift.

DM: You are very young. The style of vintage music that you sing is not something that is on the radar for most young people. How did you discover this music?

JM: I was exposed to music at a very young age through my dad. He was always interested in singing and being an entertainer, but that never happened for him. He went into the military and ended up being a police officer. I heard music around the house all the time. I like all kinds of music...well not all kinds I guess, but I am particularly attracted to blues and soul music. For me it is about the voices. I fall for a voice more than I do any particular genre.

Oh and by the way I am not young, I just look young. (laughing)

DM: I know I am not supposed to ask a woman this question but how “not young” are you?

JM: (giggling) I love to tell people how old I am. I am 33 and will be 34 in May. I love growing older. People say as a woman you shouldn’t tell people your age, but I don’t care about any of that stuff. I love not having to worry about the stupid mundane things that a 20 year old might get hung up on.

DM: Listen Jai, if I was 17 then you would be “not young” but since I am 57, TRUST ME you are young. Let’s move on before I get any older. Let’s talk about your instrument.

JM: You know my voice is kind of rough and raw and I have even heard, ‘You sing like a man.’ You know when I hear a female singer with a beautiful, melodic voice I get, I don’t know, a little…envious…that may not be the right word, but sometimes I wish I had a soft voice like some of those singers out there.

DM: You know that I have talked to female singers whose primary influences are male vocalists. Take Etta James to cite just one example. One, if not her main vocal influence, is Johnny “Guitar” Watson. Are there any male vocalists that have influenced your style?

JM: Yes...I just love Ray Charles and the way he phrases things. I love Little Willie John. His writing abilities are amazing. Little Richard...and people always laugh when I say this, but I kind of like Michael Bolton.

DM: (laughs)

JM: (Laughing) see what I mean.

DM: What are some of your earlier experiences getting out there and singing professionally?

JM: My first band, my first professional gig singing in public, was The Royal Rhythmaires.

DM: You’re yankin’ my lariat.

JM: No I am not. It was my first experience singing with a band. My first live performance was July 4, 2010. I was very nervous. It was a big show and I didn’t want to sound like an amateur. Then when I got up there it just came so naturally. I couldn’t believe it. When it was over I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, it went by so fast.’ We did 45 minutes to an hour. I had so much fun. I was very surprised that I didn’t crack...at all. I didn’t fumble over any words. I just amazed myself and as time progresses I continue to amaze myself.

DM: That is just wonderful. It must have been a very lovely surprise.

JM: It really was. It was like, ‘Where the hell did that come from?’ (laughs)

DM: You had a nice two or three year run of success with The Royal Rhythmaires up in Fort Worth, but you have moved on. Why?

JM: It is probably the typical band story. We were all on different pages and all had different ideas about the sound we wanted to create. Even though it was not my band and I wasn’t the leader, I was the front person of the band and I thought I should have had more of a say. I have overcome too much to have any one person tell me what I can’t do. If someone says ‘We aren’t going to do this.’ I’ll say ‘Fine you don’t do it...I am going to do it.’ I am not going to be stifled as an artist. So they gave me an ultimatum. I don’t believe in ultimatums, so I said goodbye. It was fun while it lasted, but I am done.

I would also like to add even though we are not friends and don’t talk does not mean that I am not grateful for the opportunity to have sung with them and for the platform that they provided for me. I can never take that away from them.

However, I wanted to do the songs that are going to be on my next album and I wanted to do them my way.

DM: When is the new album coming out?

JM: Very soon...February or March...I really hope you like the new record Dave.

DM: I do too Jai. Let’s talk about the new album.

JM: I recorded it in Germany with Nico Duportal and The Rhythm Dudes.

DM: I just saw Nico here in Southern California two days ago both at a private get together and in performance at a nightclub. The world just got smaller yet again. How did you find Nico and his band?

JM: They were actually selected by the label owner at Rhythm Bomb Records. He thought we would be a good fit, both for touring and recording. They were loads of fun and I was amazed at how quickly we got along. It takes me a while sometimes to open up, but I didn't have that issue with them. They really made me feel welcome and respected as an artist.

Even though I had been with a band before, I never felt respected for my talents as a writer. Sure I can sing. No one can take that from me ever, but I am also an amazing writer and composer even though I don't play an instrument. They can attest to that because they saw it with their own eyes. I wrote eight originals, from scratch, throughout the tour and in the studio.

Not one arrangement exists on this album without my approval. I know what I want. When I write, I write a song from start to finish, with melody changes and bridges intact. Nico and his band were able to witness how I operate. I am so grateful for being able to have that experience with them. Nico did an amazing job. He really did.

DM: Why Germany and not France (Nico’s home) or Texas?

JM: One of the studios that the label uses is Black Shack Records. It is in the Black Forest. They have an engineer there named Rawand Baziany. Ray was amazing. Rhythm Bomb Records have locations in Berlin, London and Los Angeles. They are the same label that that put out the two Royal Rhythmaires’ records.

DM: Does the new record have a title yet?

JM: It is called Rocket Girl.

DM: There has to be a good reason as to how you came up with that title.

JM: There is Dave. I was in the Black Forest getting ready to record and there was a T.V. on in the studio and it was on CNN. Somebody somewhere was getting ready to launch a communications satellite into space. I saw the rocket explode on the launch pad. I thought, ‘That has got to suck. Somebody didn’t do their job. You are getting ready to take off and then flop.’

DM: (laughs) Stop right there. I get it. You are a writer. It is a metaphor. I am sorry but I grew up in the 60’s...rocket/rock-it songs were not uncommon. They were all written by men so there were no bad launches if you know what I mean.

JM: That’s right... I thought if you are a woman and you are getting ready to get, you know, down and dirty with some guy, the last thing you want is for him not to be able to get it off the launch pad.

So, if you are going to jump into the spaceship with me I will show you how to rock-it the right way. So that’s the name of the CD. So the whole concept is ‘I have done this with previous artists, but I am going to show you, I know how to rock-it the right way.’ So the title is Rocket Girl.

DM: OK...I can’t handle any more discussion of space flight. Let’s talk about your sub-orbital trip to Brazil last year. You performed with some friends of mine over there.

JM: It was so much fun. It was just another wonderful experience for me.

DM: How so?

JM: It was just one more opportunity for me to have a thirty day window to get out of my comfort zone and get on a plane and say, ‘Hi I am Jai, let’s get it going.’ I have never done that in my life and now I have done it on two different continents. I learned so much from those guys about myself.

DM: Such as...

JM: Well for instance, we did some trio gigs in Brazil. It taught me I don’t need a horn line necessarily for me to get my music across. I learned I could sing without a piano to help me stay in sync. Igor (Prado) his brother Yuri, and Rodrigo (Mantovani) are such amazing musicians.

DM: You are right about that, but you live in Austin, Texas, you certainly don’t have to go globetrotting to find good musicians. Who do you play with when you are in your hometown?

JM: My band consists of Johnny Moeller on guitar, Massimo Gerosa on keys, the drummer is Nico Leophonte and Gil Ysáis is our bass player.

DM: By now I am sure you have been inculcated in what it means to be a Texan and the aura that surrounds that.

JM: Yes, I understand that. When I travel I think to myself, ‘I could live here, this is nice…’ and so on, but I am always glad when I get back home. I mean if you are a musician, who wouldn’t want to live in Austin? I am reminded everywhere I go how lucky I am to be in Austin. People come up to me and remind me of how many great musicians there are here.

DM: That is true of course...however, with this comes other issues for the working musician.

JM: That’s right. It means that you have to be really good if you are going to make it here. Mediocrity won’t cut it in Austin, Texas. You have to stand out. You really have to step up your game.

DM: Is there still a strong fan base for music in Austin?

JM: Definitely! For good music...absolutely...they are hungry for it.

DM: It has been my observation that in Texas they take their music about as seriously as their football and BBQ and it all wraps itself in that legendary Texas pride.

JM: You are so right about that Dave. They want to say, ‘That artist came from this town.’ It is like Longhorn Football fans who want to say that player came from here. In the case of music, the fans want to say that musician is from the culture of Austin. We don’t want to have an artist out there representing the live music capital of the world if he or she is NOT GOOD. In Austin the people love their music. If you are good, they will pack the joint. They might even get there an hour or two early just to get a good seat, but in Austin if you are no good, you will know it.

DM: How?

JM: Because if no one has told you yet that you suck, you will get to a gig and there will be nobody there except the staff and maybe six other people. At that point you have to accept it, you are no good.

DM: ...discerning music fans that have standards. I love it. What would you like people to know about you that they may not?

JM: I am friendly, but I am also very quiet. Sometimes people are put off by that, but I am a genuine and authentic person. Every song I write is a true story because I only write about what I know. Finally, I am passionate about everything in my life and I do mean everything.